May 26, 2013
SOVEREIGN GRACE BAPTIST
CHURCH
LOCATION
Rocky Hill Firehouse, 2nd
Floor
150 Washington Street
Rocky Hill, New Jersey, 08553
Clay Curtis, pastor
Telephone: 615-513-4464
Schedule of Services
Sunday 10: 15 AM Bible Class
Sunday 11:00 AM Morning Service
Thursday 7: 30 PM Midweek Service
Order of service, announcements, nursery schedule, etc.,
are in attachment. All articles in the
bulletin are by the pastor unless otherwise noted.
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THE WAY OF ESCAPE
1 Corinthians 10: 1-14
The children of Israel travelling
from Egypt through the wilderness pictures a church of professing believers
where all partake of the same gospel privileges. All of us here have come out
of bondage, all have been baptized, all partake of the same spiritual meat and
drink which is Christ. “But with many of them God was not well-pleased: for
they were overthrown in the wilderness. “Now these things were our examples” to
teach us what we should avoid.
Lust
“We should not lust after evil things,
as they also lusted.” (v6) The Israelites were where they were because God led
them there. They were without the things
they did not have because God withheld them.
The problem was they did not like where God led them and wanted what God
withheld. Brethren, God leads us. He gives and takes away for our good to teach
us contentment is not in stuff. Contentment
is found only in Christ. (Heb 13: 5-6)
Idolatry
“Neither be ye idolaters, as were
some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose
up to play.” (v7) Israel turned to idolatry
because God did not operate on their time table. “When the people saw that Moses delayed to
come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron,
and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for
this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not
what is become of him.” (Ex 32: 1) The Apostle Peter said “there shall come in
the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the
promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue
as they were from the beginning of the creation.” (2 Pet 3: 3-4) Since Christ has not returned out of the holy
hill of Zion many have said, “Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for
as for this Jesus, we wot not what is become of him.” Most have replaced the God-ordained means of
gospel preaching with various forms of entertainment. Men are lovers of pleasures more than lovers
of God, not only in the world, but in all these various forms of worship. (2 Ti
3: 4) Brethren, in this place, we will wait on God to do his will in his time
rather than turning to the man-made means men love. “Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he
shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.” (Ps 27: 14)
Fornication
“Neither let us commit fornication,
as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.” (v8) In Israel’s day, Balaam spoke truth but
denied the Lord by his works. He joined will-worshippers,
used the Moabite women to entice Israel to unite with the Moabites at Baalpeor,
and called it the worship of Jehovah. (Nu 25: 1-9) Brethren, the Spirit of
Christ dwells in the believer’s body so that the believer is one spirit with
the Lord. Therefore, we are not to take the members of Christ and make them the
members of a harlot. (1 Cor 6: 15-17) Likewise, we are one body, partaking of Christ
our one Bread. Therefore, we are not to take the members of Christ and make
them the members of the harlot of false religion. (1 Cor 10: 15-22)
Tempting Christ
“Neither let us tempt Christ, as some
of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.” (v9) Israel tempted Christ
who led them when they spoke against God and Moses so that God sent serpents
which destroyed them. Likewise, the Corinthians tempted Christ when they sat
down at meat in the idol’s temple, testing whether Christ would preserve them
or not. “Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he? All
things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are
lawful for me, but all things edify not.” Let each of us seek not only our own
welfare but the welfare of our brethren (vv22-24) “Whether therefore ye eat, or
drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. Give none offence,
neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God.” (vv31-34)
Murmuring
“Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the
destroyer.” (v10) Israel complained in a
rebellious spirit against the Lord’s providence, commandments, ordinances, and
servants. They were destroyed for doing so. “Now all these things happened unto
them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends
of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed
lest he fall. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: Wherefore,
my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.” (vv11-14; Jam 1:2-4; 12-14; 1 Pet 1:6)
God is Faithful
Brethren, our faithful God is able to keep us from falling (Ju 24; 2Th
3:3; 2Ti 2:13) He honors his Son and
all those who put their trust in him. (Gen
28: 15; Is 41:10; Ps 37: 28; Is 26: 3) In all our various trials, God is teaching
us that though everything in this world changes, God is faithful. He “will not suffer you to be tempted above
that you are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that
ye may be able to bear it.” (v13) Christ Jesus is that Way. Throughout Israel’s
journey, the Way of escape typified the Lord Jesus Christ: he is the tree that
made the bitter waters of Marah sweet; the manna in the wilderness; the smitten
rock; the serpent lifted up to whom they looked and were healed.
In our journey, the way of escape is not found in this world. We are kept from the evil by Christ the Way. His grace is sufficient to endure the trial, for
with the Power of Christ resting upon us when we are weak then are we strong. (2
Cor 12: 9) Flee from idolatry to the
Lord Jesus Christ. “We have an advocate
with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And he is the propitiation for our
sins.” (1 Jn 2: 1-2) He who put away our sin by the sacrifice of himself is also
touched with the feelings of our infirmities. (Heb 9: 26; 4: 15) Christ is able to comfort and strengthen us
in every time of need. (Heb 12: 12-13; 18-25; 2:3; Is 43: 2; 46: 4) In all these things we see examples of what
we should avoid. “In all these things we are more than conquerors through him
that loved us.” (Ro 8: 37)